Relationships

Americans have a lot on their minds. From navigating daily stress due to work or mental health to grappling with bigger widespread issues like politics, climate change, or crime, it’s safe to say there’s a lot to think about daily. For many, stressors aren’t only encroaching on their minds during waking hours, but also when they try to sleep in the form of nightmares, or bad dreams.

There comes a time when you can feel the fire waning between you and your partner. Between work, family, and other commitments, sometimes passion takes a backburner in your relationship. You find yourself stuck in the same pattern and occupied with other life obligations.

It’s normal for couples to go through ups and downs. Sometimes, there’s a notion that meeting your partner is the hard part, and then it’s easy going forward. The reality is that relationships take effort and work from both partners. Whether you’re going through conflict, dealing with an affair, struggling to communicate, or need a tune-up, couples therapy can form an essential part of a healthy relationship. 

Following the pandemic, people are spending more time at home. Despite the world opening its doors, the COVID-19 crisis has left its mark. With remote working on the rise and a decrease in face-to-face social interactions, how can solitude and isolation after your social skills?

There is a common communication behavior among married couples that predicts divorce with at least 90% accuracy. This behavior is stonewalling, when a person shuts down and stops responding to their partner, especially during a heated argument.

Between the fear of fake dating profiles, commitment, and the sheer time and expense it takes to find a match, it’s no wonder that dating today is hard. Not to mention adding an ongoing pandemic to the mix.

Have you ever thought about looking through your partner’s phone? Just a little peek. The problem is that feeling like you’re under surveillance can be extremely upsetting and damaging for the relationship in the long run.

What’s the most troublesome conflict that most couples have? . . . No conflict at all. That’s what American psychologist Dr. John Gottman says, and he knows what he’s talking about. He and his colleagues can predict divorce with a 94% accuracy. But what does he mean by “no conflict”? And is it really what partners disagree about? Or more how they do it?

Healing after an affair is painful, tough, and takes time. While a relationship can survive infidelity, both parties have to commit to repairing the damage and begin to rebuild trust.

If you and your partner are going through a hard time, it may be time to see a couples therapist. It can be overwhelming and daunting to delve into your deepest secrets. Speaking to an outside party for the first time can feel terrifying. When you live hand-in-hand with another person, arguments and fights are inevitable.

Much like the pursuit of immortality, the dream of flying, and the aspirations of a utopian society, the idea of building a perfect relationship is one that many people are curious about.

At some point in your relationship, you’re bound to hit a sexual rut. This is usually around a year-or-so down the line. And sometimes, it’s nothing more than a bump in the road, but if it goes on for too long, it can become a problem in the relation

One of the most common sticking points in any relationship is money. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married, dating, or just starting. This aspect of your life is an essential part of any relationship, but no one wants to talk about it.

Cheating is a sore subject for some. People who have been cheated on tend to hold emotional scars and psychological trauma caused by their partner’s infidelity. Cheating not only breaks the trust in a relationship, but it can also cause trust issues in those that have been cheated on, preventing them from forming long-lasting bonds even after the relationship has ended.

Any couple that tells you they don’t fight is lying. All couples fight – some more frequently than others, but all do. It’s a natural part of being in a relationship where there are two people with different qualities and beliefs. But if you’ve been fighting more often than you used to, you might wonder whether it’s time to find a therapist who can help you.

If you have relationships in your life that you realize need improvement, know that simply recognizing the need is a vital first step in making relationships better.